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Eto`o scores again to send Togo out (26.01.2006)
CAIRO (Reuters) - Cameroon striker Samuel Eto`o, who will be watching the World Cup on television in June, struck his fourth African Nations Cup goal in two games on Wednesday to eliminate Germany-bound Togo.
Eto`o followed up Saturday`s hat-trick against Democratic Republic of Congo by scoring the first goal and setting up the other as the Indomitable Lions beat Togo 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Togo, who have yet to score a point or a goal, cannot now qualify with one match still to play.
Angola, also World Cup qualifiers, were held 0-0 by the Congolese despite having a one-man advantage for 71 minutes after Tresor Mputu was sent off.
The results in Wednesday`s Group B matches have added to the intrigue over how Cameroon failed to make the World Cup while Togo and Angola qualified for their first finals.
Although the latter pair produced improved performances in a double bill at the Military Academy stadium, where tracksuited conscripts were brought in to boost an otherwise meagre crowd on a chilly afternoon, they lacked firepower in attack.
Cameroon have a maximum six points from two games, followed by Congo on four and Angola on one. Congo need only a draw against Cameroon on Sunday while Angola must win and hope Cameroon continue their winning run.
ADEBAYOR PLAYS
"I didn`t think we deserved to lose by that score," said Togo`s Nigerian coach Stephen Keshi. "It was a big improvement on the last game."
Eto`o had already struck the post and been deprived by a world class save from keeper Koffi Agassi before he scored another superb goal in the 68th minute.
After a series of rebounds in the Togo area, the ball ran loose to Eto`o and the Barcelona striker
rifled home a first-time shot from the edge of the area.
With five minutes left, Eto`o cut in from the right and fed substitute Albert Meyong Ze, who cleverly flicked the ball home.
Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who threatened to go home after a public spat with Keshi earlier this week, started the game despite being labelled a cry baby by his boss.
Adebayor came close to putting Togo ahead in the 53rd minute when he latched on to a defence-splitting pass by Moustapha Salifou.
The lanky forward took the ball past Hamidou Souleymane, who managed to flick the ball away with his legs as Adebayor was about to score.
Adebayor`s performance earned praise from Keshi.
"He played really well but I don`t want to concentrate just on one player`s performance," he said.
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves was a frustrated man after his team failed to break down Congo.
"We didn`t have any luck," he said. "We dominated the game even when it was eleven against eleven and created three chances in the first 15 minutes.
"Now, we have to depend on other people."
Congo were on the back foot after Mputu was dismissed for kicking out at Angolan defender Kali after 19 minutes.
But even with their man advantage, Angola could not convert dominant possession into goals with captain Akwa particularly guilty of squandering a myriad of half chances.
They were also vulnerable on the break with Congo striker Lomana LuaLua blasting wildly wide after breaking free in a counter-attack.
The tournament continues Thursday with two Group C matches in Alexandria.
Guinea face Zambia while Tunisia take on South Africa, beaten 2-0 by Guinea in their first outing.
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